Stitch by Stitch: We're Learning to Sew

 “The human hand allows the mind to reveal itself.” 

Maria Montessori

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1. The end-product should be useful. The children should not “be employed in making futilities such as pea and stick work, paper mats, and the like.”
2. Teach the children “slowly and carefully what they are to do.”
3. Emphasize the habit of best effort. “Slipshod work should not be allowed.”
4. Carefully select handicrafts and life skills to challenge but not frustrate. “The children’s work should be kept well within their compass.”

Charlotte Mason from Simply Charlotte Mason

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After several poorly-timed efforts to learn to sew and to teach my daughters along with me, I'm finally on a roll. All the girls have sewing lessons written into their "school" plans this year. And the boys, too, are gaining basic skills. We are really rolling right along. As we've happily stitched away this time, I've considered what our stumbling blocks were in the past. There is no doubt that one of the impediments for me was distraction. Try as I might to hit a rhythm and to understand, there were too many other things taking up my time and brain space. And then there was that lemon of a sewing machine. Another detriment, I think, was the wrong books by which to learn. There is a difference between a book full of good projects for beginners and a book which deliberately sets out to teach beginners to sew using good projects. I'm not terribly interested in analyzing the "wrong" books too much, particularly since they weren't bad, just wrong for my needs. Instead, I'm happy to report on the right book.

I've read every word of Stitch by Stitch now and stitched several projects. The book is friendly, conversational, infinitely practical and--so far--it delivers. Written in the warm voice of an experienced sewing instructor who has learned a great deal from books on hand and who has clearly taught and observed countless beginning stitchers, this is the book--the book that has  gotten me going. When I read the story of how the author, Deborah Moebes,  blossomed as a sewist herself, I could understand better the voice of her book. She seeks to be that sewing muse for the rest of us. (Go ahead read her story of Sandra--really cool.) Deborah has obviously carefully noticed the mistakes beginners make and the questions they ask and she addresses them in the book. I hear myself conversing with the author as I work and I think that is the mark of an author who has communicated well. With every project, I feel more confident in the skills I'm learning. I've promised myself to do every project in the book in order (though I am waffling on the curtains). Each project builds on the next.

I'm staying a project or two ahead of my children, sewing them myself first and then stitching them again alongside the girls (and an occasional boy). So, in the end, I will have sewn everything two or three (or maybe four) times--good practice, I do believe.

One of the great joys of home education is learning alongside my children.This summer, that joy has budded in our sewing room and I look forward to it continuing to bloom for many years to come.

Our first project together was fancy napkins with mitered corners. We chose some autumn-themed fabrics (mostly because I didn't know how long finishing this project would take). Everyone got in on the stitching and they were all quite pleased with their successes.

Skills we built:

stitching straight lines

mitering corners

pivoting

edge finishing with a zigzag stitch

I chatted with Sarah the other day. Remember? It was Sarah who got me into this sewing thing this time around. Anyway, she's promised that any minute--just as soon as the all day long morning sickness isn't all day long any more--she will join us in this endeavor. A Stitch by Stitch sewalong! You want to sew with us, too? It's just us and the book. A casual sewing circle, if you will. No competition and no hurries. Just a friendly gathering and a place for you to brag on small successes and be assured that we will ooh and ahh over your finished objects. Leave a link below after you finish your napkins, or just drop a note in the comments and tell us all about it.

Next up: A Pocket Mat with Bias-Bound Edges

And Then There was Quilt Camp

While Nicky was a golf camp, Katie was at quilt camp. They spent a week in Charlottesville together with my dad and stepmom.  I think I might have been as excited about this opportunity as Katie was. I left a note for Katie to read the first morning of quilt camp

P.S.  Katie, when you get to camp on the very first day, you'll find a sewing machine there for you. To keep. And bring home.

Really! That might be the second hardest secret I've ever kept. The first one was this one.

Grandpa said to tell you it's Christmas in July;-)

Sarah missed Katie terribly the whole time she was gone. On that first night home, the very special quilt found its intended owner. And Katie, who chose the fabric and stitched every stitch with Sarah in mind, snuggled right in next to her for a well deserved good night's sleep.

 

Daybook: Hot Enough For You?

Outside My Window

The heat index is 115 degrees. 

I am Listening to

A huge crowd of children from 2-16 playing a Wii dance game. Indoor exercise. Lots of giggling. Rather loud, really.

I am Wearing

Shoes. I have received two new pairs of shoes in the last couple of weeks. After Katie was born, my first time up after the c-section and epidural, I felt a shooting electrical pain down my left leg and around my arch. The anesthesioligist swore he had nothing to do with it. It hurt more or less, off and on, for about three years. In that time, I learned to love shoes with excellent arch support.  And I never went shoeless. "Barefoot and pregnant," cute as it sounds, is not a good idea. Lately though, I've gotten a little lazy. Shoeless or flip flops or even a cute pair of dress shoes.--none of them good ideas.

My shin swelled in a weird way. My foot hurt. My knee hurt. I whined a lot. My child with a Nike connection presented me with these one fine morning. In bright pink. He was so dear and so proud of himself for listening carefully to my whining. So sure he'd solve my foot problems. And, oh yes, these shoes are awesome. Really, really good!

But they look a little weird with skirts and such. So, another package arrived with these. Aren't they darling? And they do everything they promise for arches and ouches. Because my husband is awesome, too.

So, there you go. I'm wearing shoes. All. the. time. (I was going to take a picture, but my pedicure looks like it was painted on by a two-year-old. Because it was.)

I am so Grateful for

air conditioning.

I'm Pondering

 "Wait the kids set the table at your house? You mean like in the movies?" 

~spoken by a dinner guest of Katie's at our house one night last week. And she has me thinking, really thinking, about what the kids "get" to do around here.

I am Reading

10 Habits of Happy Mothers. Good stuff here. Really good stuff.   Actually, I am re-reading.  Thursdays, here on this blog, we are digging deep and getting to know this book, these habits, and each other.  We've started talking here .

My current, fun, treat-after-massive-housecleaning book is Signature Styles: Twenty Crafters Stitch their Look. I don't really--ahem--have a style. It's pretty much a look in the closet and wear what fits kind of thing. There's no budget for it and for so many years I've been pregnant or postpartum or nursing that complete utility has dictated what I wear. Furthermore, it's hard for me to spend money on my own clothes for some reason. I always head out to buy myself something and end up at a kids' clothing store. Since what fits right now is often eight years old or older,  I'm guessing I'm dated. But I'm going to work on it and this book is lots of fun!

And I'm carefully reading Stitch by Stitch and hoping that when I figure out a style, I'll actually be able to make the vision come to life. We shall see...

I am Thinking

about whether Sarah meant forever when she told me she was "all done with nunnies" last night. Actually, I'm trying not to think about it. Guess I'll know tonight. Yeah. Trying not to think about it. It's nearly bedtime, though. So we shall see. 

I am Creating

knitting:

just finished a sweater for Karoline (details on Ravelry)

sewing:

a reversible tote bag

or two (Mary Beth)

or three (Katie)

On my iPod

Pinterest.  There's an app for that! I may never read Facebook again. I've got Pinterest on my iPod for filling boring moments during which I otherwise would be mindlessly clicking through Facebook. Instead of random status updates, I go to Pinterest and get a visual fix. Pinterest is highly addictive. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Towards a Real Education

Christian all registered. Patrick all registered. Everyone else all planned and purchased for the fall term. Feeling rather relaxed about the whole thing. Fancy that. 

Towards Rhythm and Beauty

Michael has a new real life job. He's working the overnight desk at USAToday. That means he leaves for work at 6PM and arrives home around 4AM. Moms have trouble getting to sleep until all the chicks are in the nest. Trust me, I'm working hard to overcome instinct in this case. 

To Live the Liturgy...

We'll celebrate St. Anne this week.

I am Hoping and Praying

for Elizabeth deHority. She is constantly on my heart and in my prayers. She needs you now. Please, please pray with me. 

 for all the people who have written me recently to ask for prayers.

 In the Garden

I dearly hope that when this heat breaks we will be able to breathe life into the garden once again. Poor, wilted lovelies.

Around the House

Now that I know who will be home for the fall (everybody), it's time to draw up a new housekeeping list.

From the Kitchen 

Peaches. Peaches. Peaches. Can't get enough of them. Can't keep them stocked in the fridge.

One of My Favorite Things

Homecomings. Oh, I know I've said it before, countless times. And I know I said he wasn't going to travel any more. But travel he does and so homecomings are still one of my favorite things. 

A Few Plans for the Week

St. Anne

various doctor and dentist appointments

knitting, sewing

heavy duty yardwork as soon as the heat breaks

Picture thoughts:

 

Intentional Weekend: Farmer's Market

Steamy Saturday morning,

 children carried along on the promise of apple cinnamon bread for breakfast when we return home, 

gathering supper from the hands that grew it.

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1/2 onion, minced

2 large garlic cloves, minced

2 ounces pancetta (or we substitute nitrate-free bacon)

1 pound ripe plum tomatoes, peeled and diced (we substitute two pints sungold tomatoes, halved but not peeled)

1/4 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes

1/4 pound Japanese or Italian eggplant, unpeeled in a neat 1/4 inch dice.

1/2 red bell pepper, seeds and ribs removed, in neat 1/4 inch dice

1/4 pound zucchini, in neat 1/4 inch dice

salt to taste

1 pound dried fusilli

2/3 cup freshly grated romano cheese

Heat olive oil in a 12 inch skillet over moderately low heat. Add onion and arlic and saute until onion is soft, 8-10 minutes. Add pancetta and saute until it renders some of its fat, about 3 minutes, then add tomatoes and hot pepper flakes. Raise heat to moderately high and cook, stirring often, until tomatoes collapse and begin to form a sauce, about 10 minutes. Add eggplant, bell pepper, and zucchini. Season with salt. Saute 3 minutes. Add 1/2 cup water, cover, readuce heat to maintain a bare simmer and cook until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Check occasionally and add more water if needed to achieve a saucelike consistency. Uncover, taste, and adjust seasoning.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add pasta and cook until al dente. Drain. Transfer to a warm bowl. Add sauce and cheese and toss well. Serve immediately.

Makes 4-6 servings. If you have a big enough pot, this recipe doubles or triples well.

From Fresh from the Farmer's Market

This moment needs a dozen pictures or more

When you are the youngest brother of five boys, you grow accustomed to hand-me-down cleats and previously worn jerseys. You retrieve banged up baseball bats from the garage and happily play with tennis balls that already have had the fuzz beat off them. But one day, you face a seemingly insurmountable challenge. You want to play golf. 

You desperately want to play golf.

You are obsessed with golf. You talk about golf every day. All day long. There is a full set of junior clubs sitting right there in the garage, next to all the other athletic equipment you've always had right when you wanted it. But you have a problem. A big, overwhelming problem. Your big brothers are lefthanded. And you are not.

You eye your father's right-handed clubs. He's 6'4". Chances are very good that, one day, you will be very tall, too. Right now, though, those clubs are too big. And right now you want to play golf.

You hatch money-making schemes: lawn mowing, dog walking, lemonade stands. This is a maddeningly slow process. You begin to worry that the summer is slipping away and you will never have the right clubs to play golf.

And then one afternoon, you are sitting in the restaurant at your grandpa's club, just eating your french fries and gazing out longingly at the greens beyond the big picture window.

And a strange man approaches.

Are you Nicholas? {You nod, tentatively, and wonder why this strange man is standing so close to you and why he's dragged golf clubs into the restaurant.}

I'm Jack. I'm the golf pro here. {Um, nice to meet you?}

Do you like these clubs? {You nod again.}

Would you want to keep them? {Who IS this dude and is he crazy? Keep them! You let yourself look at them a little harder. Whoa, those are amazing clubs!}

Your grandpa says you can have them. {This is some sort of dream. Some sort of really, really good dream. Shake yourself a little. Those are your clubs!} 

And that golf course just beyond the panes of glass? That's where you'll spend the week learning to play golf.

 

Every little boy should have that once-in-a-lifetime perfect day that comes of a grandpa hearing his heart's desire, dreaming his dream with him, and making his fondest wish come true.